Brussels: Tens of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes in Turkey and France on Monday as wildfires and a punishing early summer heatwave swept across much of Europe. Authorities in at least five countries have issued health warnings as the continent faces soaring temperatures more typical of late July or August.
“Western Europe is currently grappling with extreme heat levels rarely seen in June,” said Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. In some areas, temperatures were reported to be 5 to 10 degrees Celsius above seasonal norms.
In western Turkey’s Izmir province, fierce wildfires burned for a second consecutive day, driven by strong winds. According to the country’s disaster management authority AFAD, over 50,000 people have been evacuated from five regions — more than 42,000 of them in Izmir alone. The country’s coastal zones have faced increasing wildfire threats in recent years, a trend scientists attribute to global warming fueled by human activity.
In France, emergency crews responded to wildfires in the Aude region, where Sunday’s temperatures exceeded 40°C (104°F). Around 400 hectares were scorched, prompting the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey. While the fires were brought under control, they had not yet been fully extinguished by Monday. Meteo France placed 84 out of 101 departments under orange heatwave alerts, with the worst conditions expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Across Europe, the scorching weather is disrupting daily life. In London, fans queuing for the Wimbledon tennis tournament struggled with unrelenting sunshine. “It’s about 20 degrees hotter than I’m used to,” said Scottish spectator Scott Henderson. “I’m completely sunburnt.”
Spain, enduring what could become its hottest June on record, recorded highs of 43.7°C in El Granado. In Seville, where UN leaders are convening for a conference, municipal worker Bernabe Rufo summed up the sentiment: “It’s awful. We’re constantly looking for shade.” Weather agency AEMET warned that intense heat will persist through Thursday.
Italy's Health Ministry issued red alerts in 16 cities, including Rome and Milan. In Lombardy, regional officials are considering halting outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day, following union demands to protect workers.
Germany, too, faced sweltering temperatures up to 34°C across its western and southwestern regions, prompting officials to ask residents to conserve water. Falling water levels on the Rhine River have disrupted cargo shipping and driven up freight costs, according to commodity traders. Power prices surged in both Germany and France due to heightened demand for air conditioning.
Health experts warn that extreme heat poses significant risks, particularly for infants, the elderly, low-income communities, and outdoor workers. Globally, heatwaves claim up to 480,000 lives annually — more than floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes combined — and increasingly threaten infrastructure, economies, and healthcare systems, according to Swiss Re.
Scientists continue to link the intensifying heat and wildfire events to greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. 2023 was the hottest year ever recorded globally — a record that may not last long as climate change accelerates.
